McKenzie River National Recreation Trail

Saturday, September 1

It seems like everyone here at McKenzie Bridge National Forest Campground, east of Eugene, Oregon, knows the story of Bridget’s injury. Not that she blabs it around, although I’m sure she would if she could. Suffice it to say, The Tale of the Tragic Incident has gotten around.

What happens is people see her sitting in the middle of the road while Spike and I stand around doing nothing and undoubtedly look stupid. This garners odd looks from fellow campers, which compels me to explain her injury. Her latest thing is to stop and plop her butt down in front of every campsite.

Sometimes she refuses to take a walk around the campground with Spike and me.

She sits next to the PTV and watches us walk away. Other campers walk by our campsite and laugh. Anyway.

At first I was going to take us up to Cougar Reservoir.

However, camper JoAnn told me that the campground is “clothes optional.” Hmm . . . Hence the name? Even though I think there’s nothing shameful about the human body, I do think it’s shameful what it looks like after several laps around the track, if you get my drift. Noooo, not my idea of sightseeing.

Instead, I drive us on a scenic tour of Blue River Lake.

It’s beautiful, of course, as you can see from the photos in today’s slideshow. Trees grow right down to the lake’s edge. Mona Campground is at the upper end of the lake, and, of course, each campsite’s view of the lake consists of three square inches if you stand on your picnic table and peek through the branches and leaves. Why is that anyway? There must be a gazillion-gabillion trees in Oregon. Geesh . . . Would the ecosystem be disrupted that much if a few branches were cut?

The day use and boat launch area has been opened up for camping. The RVs are squished in there so tightly, it looks like a small city. Can’t blame them though. At least they can see the lake.

I drive home, smug in the fact that OUR campsite has it’s very own riverbank!

Sunday, September 2

Today the crew and I set out on the McKenzie River Trail, a 26-mile hike. Bridget is still hopping on three legs so our hike is more like .00007 miles. Nevertheless, short as it may be, we see a lot of river and rapids, moss, big trees standing up alive, big trees lying down dead, ferns, and various other forms of vegetation. More importantly, Spike takes a soak in the McKenzie. No big news there![slideshow]

Bridget and Spike like a well-defined trail.

They really get into it. I guess because they can anticipate where we are going, and they feel like they are in charge. Sometimes, when the trail narrows, they bump shoulders while passing, as if to say, “Hey, it’s my turn to lead!” Usually Bridget playfully nips Spike on the cheek before putting him in her rear view mirror, so to speak.

Tomorrow, Monday, September 3, we see the Pacific Ocean for the first time!

The crew and I travel westward on Highway 126 through Springfield and Eugene to Florence. Sutton Campground is our destination, not far from the Pacific Ocean and the beach!

rvsue

Canine Corner: “What Do I Have To Do To Get Some Sympathy Around Here?” by Bridget

I’m injured so what do we do? Go hiking!

I don’t care if I get laughed at. This is a serious leg injury. I have to rest a lot. Sometimes I’m unable to walk at all. I could be paralyzed!

Spike and rvsue walk around the campground and leave me behind. Of course, Spike acts like a big shot because he has rvsue all to himself.

One of these days, Spike’s going to hurt himself and I’m going to go, “Ha. Ha. Ha. Stop being a big baby.” That’s what he says to me. Sometimes Spike is so mean I want to bite his face off.

32 Responses to McKenzie River National Recreation Trail

Sue, have you thought about taking Bridget to the vets to check if something is really wrong ? My Shar-Pei was walking up the driveway, pulling on the leash and blew her knee out, 4 weeks later while just starting to walk again, pulled off the leash with my husband and blew the other knee out !!! Oh my gosh it was lots of $$$ Whatever you do I hope Bridget gets well soon :/

Awww, poor little Bridget…dogs are a lot tougher than we sometimes give them credit for!! Maybe you need to think about getting her a little cart you can push or pull when she simply cannot go anymore…so she would not be left behind that way.

A cart? Oh, Bridget would love that . . . for the rest of her life. I picked up her other back leg and she stood on her bad leg with no sign of pain. Then she remembered and pulled it back up again as soon as I let go.

Pooooor Poooooor POOOOOOR Bidget Girlie! So sorry you are in such pain! Maybe RvSue should just leave you back at the BLT instead of making you walk to all those beautiful places!
Life can be hard for those who bask in fame… but Bridget… I think you better just put your big girl panties on and get better soon! Beautiful campground AGAIN Sue! LOL! Can’t wait to see the Pacific photos!

Dear Sue, the injury you describe to Bridget sounds similar to one our poodle, Lambchop, experienced. She had to have leg surgery to repair it. Bridget should see a vet before her injury heals incorrectly. Love to hear your adventures. . .

Enjoy the coast!!!!!!!!!!! September and October are suppose to be the best time to go. I left it Sunday headed south and already miss it, but I will get to see the Gulf of Mexico in a few weeks. Can’t wait to see the pics……….and remember to dress warm in layers.

Dear Spike,
Don’t let Bridget get away with this or she’ll pull it on Sue forever! Not remembering which leg is ‘injured’ is the first clue, make sure you DON’T remind her and try to confuse her. Sue is smart, she’ll figure it out soon.
the Hound Herd
Dear Sue,
Drive carefully thru Eugene, it’s a college town and the roads are real screwy! Lot’s a pix of Florence please, trying to convince Geri maybe we oughta, head there next summer, espescially if we can’t do FL this year. 1/12/13 or so in Q’site… Sue and Jim bought a 22′ Born Free. Their Liberty sold almost instantly!
Chuck…PS great pix but don’t mention trimming trees in Oregone…….

There’s a bypass around Eugene. You’re right. It’s confusing. I pulled into a shopping center parking lot and asked some locals how to get on the other side of Eugene. They helped me avoid all that mess. When in doubt, ask a local! Do I know Sue and Jim?
I figured I was blasphemous by mentioning the cutting of a tree . . .

Sue and Jim have Jerry the Cat, you met them in Q’site with us. Jim just got tired of hooking up the Casita to their front wheel drive Honda Van (takes a lot more stuff than your setup) and had seen a BornFree (and they are built as well as a Casita) and found a factory tradeinmin great shape.

Hi Sue- Been checking your blog from time to time and, like others, it’s fun to hear and see your adventures as you explore new places. Haven’t been to Oregon or the Pacific since 87 but have memories of traveling down the Columbia River, through Hood River and on to Portland where Kathy’s grandmother lived….K spent a summer years ago between college years with her there and explored the wonders of the Northwest. They have lots of ‘falls’, don’t know how many there are where you’re at.

I’ve wondered how the ‘auxilary power unit’, AKA solar sys works with all the trees! BLT looks good anywhere you park it! Hope your journey remains stimulating and safe. All the best, Bill and Kathy

Love, love, love Oregon…. vast and yet so varied. I’m with you clothes are only option in a shower. ECK… I can’t think of anything worse except if maybe it was my body without the clothes! Give Bridgett a squeeze for me, she needs all the loving we can muster! Enjoy Oregon.

Hubby and I laughed about the other campsite…so nice you were warned…you are on the LIBERAL coast (which includes up and down from Wa. to Ca.) now you know…so maybe you should ask around every time you want to go someplace different…there are other spots like that you know…I NEVER would go to one, so I no longer know where they are either…heh! (I remember needing to know that in Hawaii when we lived there too…ahem!)

I agree with you about Cougar springs, no problem with the human body, especially when fit – but most that want to bare all, aren’t what I would call prime specimens. I wouldn’t consider my body as something others would want to look at.. heck I don’t want to look at it…

Poor Bridgett – I think you should get one of those dog slings that you carry – like a baby carrier they make back pack ones for dogs her size and then you could just carry Bridget along with you – I am sure she would like that ;-)) would help her heal. Could be a knee issue, my pup sometimes has problems with his knee joint. I think she is doing a fine job at extracting sympathy!!!

Sue, i noticed that Rusty mentioned being interviewed by a paper, so I went to Google to see if I could locate the interview. Didn’t find it. But, you have to know you have a following when you go to Google, type in Rusty and Timber, and the first two options are rvsue. Can’t wait to hear about your first view of the Pacific. I have only seen it from a plane. I hear that the Oregon coast is s big RV draw. Have a great time.